Indian Kino - from Sutra to Science

Indian Kino – from Sutra to Science Have you heard of Indian Kino (Pterocarpus marsupium)? It is a deciduous tree – it sheds its leaves annually - native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It has been a favorite of the SVA lineage since it has so many medicinal properties, but particularly helps with sugar and fat metabolism. Vaidya’s SVA lineage prepares effective formulas combining Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), and Indian Kino (Pterocarpus marsupium). These are then delivered through different methods (orally, transdermally, vibrationally, etc) based on the hetu or etiological factor.

But we know that Ayurveda is a treasure-chest of many wondrous healing herbs, so what makes Indian Kino so special? Why does it stand out? The classical sutra says: ध.

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bījakaḥ sakaṣāyaśca kaphapittāsranāśanaḥ|| dha| ni| In other terms, Indian Kino’s astringent rasa (taste) has a special therapeutic action that pacifies both Pitta and Kapha. This is quite extraordinary, since ordinarily, one requires a cooling action in order to pacify Pitta and a heating action to pacify Kapha, however Indian Kino has a special unique effect on both these biological humors or doshas. In Ayurveda and Sanskrit, this unique and specific action of the herb is referred to as its prabhava. Indian Kino has the ability to ignite the agni (digestive and transformative fire) that lies in the gaps (sandhis) of body tissues, yet at the same time has a cooling effect on the liver and pancreas. This is especially effective for metabolic disorders such as obesity and glucose intolerance.

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asanaḥ kaṭuruṣṇaśca tikto vātārttidoṣanut| sārako galadoṣaghno raktamaṇḍalanāśanaḥ|| rā| ni|

Indian Kino also has a slightly pungent and a bitter taste. The bitter taste and the slight warmth that the pungent taste delivers, helps to pacify Vata aggravation of the deeper tissues. Since metabolic issues can also be provoked by a Vata aggravation, long-term use of Indian Kino can help to pacify Vata as well as Pitta and Kapha. Adishakti, LLC, 2012 – The information found herein has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice. It is not intended to be used to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any known or unknown diseases. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any herbal supplements or herbs.

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ध

. . bījakaḥ pītasāraśca pītaśālaka ityapi|

bandhūkapuṣpaḥ priyakaḥ sarjakaścāsanaḥ smṛtaḥ||bhā| pra|

The liver requires informed care, as it is a highly agneya organ, and any improper handling can overload and affect the body’ entire organ system. In addition, it requires slow but steady delivery of balancing treatments to re-activate it back into total health. In this sense, Indian Kino is an ideal herb, because it supports the liver’s healthy regulation of bile flow, which in turn helps to clean out the accumulated doshas, correct abnormal bowel movements, as well as clean the blood system. But there is more!

. . bījakaḥ kuṣṭhavīsarpaśvitramehagudakrimīn| hanti śleṣmāsrapittaṁ ca tvacyaḥ keśyo rasāyanaḥ|| bhā| pra| ndian Kino’s healing qualities are truly vast. As the sutra above states, this herb has a healing effect on chronic skin conditions caused by various types of herpes, a cleaning effect on amoebic accumulation (bacteria) in the rectal area. It is also considered to be of great use in metabolic issues such as diabetes.

In addition to pacifying all three doshas; Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Indian Kino has a cooling effect on the blood, is stated to be highly nurturing for the skin and hair, and is also considered an overall rejuvenator (rasayana).

Where does modern science stand on Indian Kino?

Modern scientific research has been keenly investigating the properties of this herb, intrigued by the statements of the classical ayurvedic texts. In the past twenty or so years, scientific findings have confirmed this wondrous herb’s properties for helping a variety of disorders including sugar and fat metabolism.

The modern lab profiling of Indian Kino confirms the numerous benefits of Ayurvedic formulations , specially in the fashion used and prescribed in the SVA lineage.i Below are some salient findings and details: Adishakti, LLC, 2012 – The information found herein has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice. It is not intended to be used to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any known or unknown diseases. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any herbal supplements or herbs.

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Pterostilbene, obtained from Indian Kino wood/bark showed hypoglycemic activity in dogs. ii The flavanoid fraction has also showed antihyperlipidemic activity. iii The aqueous extract of the latex of Indian Kino was found to possess marked α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

One of the active principles of Pterocarpus has insulinogenic action.iv An alternative approach to controlling insulin sensitivity in obese and non-obese horses may be the use of certain herbal compoundsv The Indian Kino plant has been found to possess diverse number of biological activities. A review and paper (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb - Biological activities and medicinal properties )reveals the biological activities and medicinal properties of P. marsupium compounds isolated, pharmacological actions of the P. marsupium extracts, clinical studies and plausible medicinal applications along with their safety evaluation.vi  In another study, aqueous extract of PM (1 g/kg PO) was assessed for its effect on glycogen levels of insulin dependent (skeletal muscle and liver), insulin-independent tissues (kidneys and brain) and enzymes such as glucokinase (GK), hexokinase (HK), and phosphofructokinase (PFK). Administration of PM led to decrease in blood glucose levels by 38 and 60% on 15th and 30th day of the experiment. Liver and 2-kidney weight expressed as percentage of body-weight was significantly increased in diabetics (p < 0.0005) vs. normal controls and this alteration in the renal weight (p < 0.0005) but not liver weight was normalized by feeding of PM extract. Renal glycogen content increased by over 10-fold while hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen content decreased by 75 and 68% in diabetic controls vs. controls and these alteration in glycogen content was partly prevented by PM. Activity of HK, GK and PFK in diabetic controls was 35,50 and 60% of the controls and PM completely corrected this alteration in PFK and only partly in HK and GK.vii  Diabetes and herbs have had a long and good working relationship over many centuries through the use of single or combined herbal - raw and cooked - preparations. In the light of technological progress, modernization, the industrialization of medicine through allopathic formulations, the preventive knowhow of herbal formulations unfortunately became lost to us.

However, we are currently witnessing the come-back of healing traditions, specially Ayurveda, and this is best illustrated through the interest that pharmaceutical companies themselves are bearing on herbal preparations for the treatment of diseases like diabetes.viii

So this is all very fine and dandy, but what does it mean for you, and me, personally, in a day-to-day reality? If Indian Kino is yet another wondrous ayurvedic herb, should we incorporate it into our daily Adishakti, LLC, 2012 – The information found herein has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice. It is not intended to be used to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any known or unknown diseases. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any herbal supplements or herbs.

TOLL-FREE: 888-324-2634 – PHONE: 818 709-1005 - www.vaidyamishra.com - www.chandika.com

regimen? If so, why? And again, if so, how much, and when? For how long? Of course, if you have a specific issue you would like to have addressed, it is always best to consult with your local SVA expert.

However, it is also possible to simply enrich your daily herbal regimen by adding the use of Indian Kino.

It is like complimenting your daily diet, and when done properly in the right amount, it can only yield side-benefits instead of affects! Here are some practical tips and recipes. You will notice that we have covered different delivery methods, as each has its place, and effectiveness, as you have probably learnt by now with Vaidya Mishra through his SVA knowledge.

How to use Indian Kino  Tea: o A pinch of DGL (Deglycerized Licorice) Powder o ¼ teaspoon of fennel o A small stick (2 grams) of Indian kino o 5 seeds of fenugreek o ¼ teaspoon of coriander seed o Boil the above ingredients in 16 oz of water o Drink this tea after breakfast or lunch once a day o Supports healthy sugar metabolism and fat metabolism 

Nectar Drops: o 1-2 drops of Indian Kino herbal memory nectar drops http://www.chandika.com/products/Indian-Kino-Herbal-Memory-Nectar.html o 1 drop of fennel herbal memory nectar http://www.chandika.com/products/Fennel-Herbal-Memory-Nectar.html o 2 drops of coriander herbal memory nectar http://www.chandika.com/products/Coriander-Herbal-Memory-Nectar.html o 1 drop of DGL (Deglycerized Licorice) herbal memory nectar http://www.chandika.com/products/DGL-%28Deglycerized-Licorice%29-Herbal-MemoryNectar.html o Add the above nectar drops to one liter of neutral pH spring water and drink throughout the day. o This supports healthy sugar and fat metabolism

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Facial “glow” mask o To enhance the glow and luster of the skin, make a tea with: o 2 grams of Indian kino o 3 strings of saphron o 2 pinches of turmeric powder o Prepare the mix in 2 oz of water and filter with coffee filter o Combine the “skin tea” with a little SVA skin clay powder and mix into a thin paste.

Adishakti, LLC, 2012 – The information found herein has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice. It is not intended to be used to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any known or unknown diseases. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any herbal supplements or herbs.

TOLL-FREE: 888-324-2634 – PHONE: 818 709-1005 - www.vaidyamishra.com - www.chandika.com

o o 

Apply the paste on the face, neck, hands and feet.

Leave the paste on the skin for 5-8 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

High Potency Indian Kino – this version of the herb should always be used under the guidance and recommendations of a licensed SVA practitioner.

Note: If you are suffering from any diseases or health issues, please check with your doctor before taking Indian Kino.

Endnotes i

Harinarayan Singh Chandel, A. K. Pathak, and Mukul Tailang, Standardization of some herbal antidiabetic drugs in polyherbal formulation. Pharmacognosy Res. 2011 Jan-Mar; 3(1): 49–56. [Pubmed: 3119272] ii Haranath PS, Ranganthrao K, Anjaneyulu CR, Ramnathan JD. Studies on the hypoglycemic and pharmacological actions of some stilbenes. Indian J Med Sci. 1958;12:85–9. [PubMed: 13524919] iii Jahromi MA, Ray AB. Antihyperlipidemic effect of flavonoids from Pterocarpus marsupium. J Nat Prod.

1993;56:989–94. [PubMed: 8377021] iv Ahmad F, Khalid P, Khan MM, Rastogi AK, Kidwai JR. Insulin like activity in epicatechin. Acta diabetol Lat. 1989;26:291–300. [PubMed: 2698039] v Potential treatments for insulin resistance in the horse: A comparative multi-species review, Kellie D. Tinwortha, Patricia A. Harrisb, Martin N. Sillencec, Glenys K. Noble. The Veterinary Journal Volume 186, Issue 3, December 2010, Pages 282–291 vi Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb - Biological activities and medicinal properties, Yogesh Badkhane, A.S. Yadav, Ajit K. Sharma, D. K. Raghuwanshi, Shilandra Kumar Uikey, Firdous A Mir, Shabir A. Lone, Tanuja Murab vii Effect of feeding aqueous extract of Pterocarpus marsupium on glycogen content of tissues and the key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Mol Cell Biochem. 2002 Dec;241(1-2):53-9.

Grover JK, Vats V, Yadav S. Source: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. viii Bird’s Eye View on Herbal Treatment of Diabetes, Dharmesh Sharma1, Deepak Prashar2*and Sanjay Saklani3 1 Department of Pharmacology, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar (H.P.), India 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manav Bharti University, Solan (H.P.), India 3 Department of Economics, Govt. College Dharampur, Mandi (H.P.), India

Adishakti, LLC, 2012 – The information found herein has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice. It is not intended to be used to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any known or unknown diseases. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any herbal supplements or herbs.

TOLL-FREE: 888-324-2634 – PHONE: 818 709-1005 - www.vaidyamishra.com - www.chandika.com